Meet Our Intruder.............

I received some good ideas and suggestions from freinds that read this post.

Thank you all very much.

Our pond went from the total surface of the water being covered densely by Water Lilies:

To this:

Water Lilies torn to shreds leaving my Koi exposed. This Water Lily keeps it's leaves in the winter making it ideal to keep the fish safe and hidden....at least in the last 14 years it has.....

I placed flour all around the pond and dog food can as suggested by friends hoping to catch some footprints to let me know who/what I was dealing with.

All quiet for a few nights....

Then while watching Tv last night about 8pm we heard the Dog Food can lid hit the deck. We looked out and saw that indeed the lid was on the deck, but there was nothing in sight.

But we did find a wet footprint on one of the watering cans.

My Daring Daughter decided to investigate further. She got a flashlight and checked out the side of the house nearest the deck. Now this is the ugly section of my backyard...yes I DO have an ugly section!

It houses the cages left from past pet Rabbits and Iguana,

stores lumber, and a variety of other yard related items.

All of a sudden I heard a scream!

I went out to see what she found and saw this.....

see the glowing eyes?

now?

How about now?

Of course, Macho Middle Son wanted to shoot him. What is it with males?

It isn't the raccoon's fault. The way they were building homes on farmland around here it's no wonder Mr Raccoon has to look elsewhere for food.

We watched Mr Rocky Raccoon as he finally left over the fence to visit the neighbor next door.

I decided to leave the lid off the Dog Food can so maybe he would leave my Koi alone.

We went back to watching Tv. During the next commercial Daring Daughter decided to look out the sliding door.

Lo and behold he was back..in the Dog Food can!

I grabbed the camera and by the time I got there he had left.

We opened the door and peeked out.

He was at the side of the house looking around the corner!

When he saw me, he slowly backed away.

I went out after him.

He again climbed up the cages and over to the neighbors.

We left the yard lights on thinking that woud deter him....HA!

He came back again!

Tasty!

Yes, he even smiled for the camera!

So amazing he wasn't even scared of my flash.

Bold critter.

So we turned off the lights and left him to hopefully fill up on Dog Food, not fish.

Now, I realize my yard is certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat and I know about the Circle of Life but c'mon.

It was hard enough watching a Harris Hawk catch a Sparrow while eating at one of my feeders...but I love my Koi!

The darn things are so trusting. When the Dogs go into the pond to drink the Koi come right up to them. I often wonder if crumbs fall out of their mouths or something! LOL 

So now the dilema.

What to do.

I intended on catching it in our Havahart Trap.

But seeing the size of this beauty, I'm having second thoughts.

After researching I've also found it is illegal in most states to catch and relocate unless you are licensed to do so.

I'm going to call County Animal Control on Monday and see what they say.

I'm hoping they have an answer...like they will come and trap it ;~)

There seem to be alot of remedies out there to ridding your yard of Raccoons.

From Motion Activated Sprinklers, to catching, to...and this is my fav....

Soaking Marshmellows on Unpasturized Brown Apple Juice and placing around the pond. Supposedly the Raccoon will pick up the Marshmellow and try to wash it in the pond. Once wet, the Marshmellow gets goopy, thereby getting his hands dirty and sticky. Since Raccoons don't like their hands dirty they  associate dirty hands with the pond and stay away.

Now that I know what I'm dealing with, I wish I didn't.......

Hey, Mr. Stay Puft Marshmellow Man, where are you?!

Help Needed!

I am hoping someone out there is able to help.

Something has been getting into our pond and catching our fish.

Let me start at the beginning....

About 2-3 weeks ago something started getting into the dog food can (small galvanized trash can style) I keep on the deck. When I'd go out in the morning the lid would be knocked off. I figured it was just the neighborhood stray cats. This went on for about a week & I decided to "tighten" the lid.

The next morning there was one of our koi near the pond missing it's head.

Many of the boulders and large pieces of slate from the edges were knocked into the pond. The water lily that once covered the surface was torn up.

I cleaned it all up and replaced the rocks.

I dug out our cat cage and set it up.

For about a week....nothing, all was calm.

Two nights ago it came back and got into the dog food can once again.

The next night I placed a watering can on top of the dog food can to see what would happen, that night all was calm...nothing had been touched.

Now each night since the decapitated fish we've been setting the cat trap with tuna...it has never been sprung or had any sign of interest.

Last night I forgot to set it. I also left the lid to the can unweighted.

The can and trap went untouched.

But this morning, again, a koi was laying about 2 feet from the pond. This time still intact except for a little blood from, what I assume, teeth/claw.

All the large boulders & slate were once again knocked into the pond. The water lily torn up.

Now, at first I thought it was hungry....getting into the dog food, eating the head. But now I am so confused.

Why didn't it eat what it caught last night?

If it's only "playing" why did it get into the dog food?

If it's not hungry, no wonder it won't go into the trap.

What would actually get into 2-3 foot of water??

And have the weight to knock in the boulders?

You can see by the way the pond looks that it is actually in there trying to catch a fish. The water lily is twisted and torn like it would be if I were in there trying to catch one bare handed.

Playing with the fish doesn't sound like a wild animal.

Our backyard is surrounded with a wooden fence.

There are no holes under, so it is comming over??

A Heron/Crane wouldn't be knocking the boulders in, plus they would eat it.

What could it be?

 Racoon? Opossum? what else?

How am I going to get rid of it?

I am hoping someone has had or has heard of something similar to this and can help me figure out what to do.

Thanks for taking the time to read this..

I'm at my wits end!   

Mosaic Monday ~ Turkey Time

It's time for Mosaic Monday over at Mary's Little Red House.

Since we are getting so close to Thanksgiving I thought I'd use some vintage Thanksgiving Postcards.

I hope you enjoy them:~)

China Town

OK, So this is a continuation of this post .

None of us had been to China Town in San Francisco before,

so we headed there...thanks to Garmin ;~)

They alot of really neat old architecture.

We checked out alot of shops & had fun!

My daughter & youngest crossing the street from an anime shop.

He thinks he's out of the picture......not!

My oldest Son's girlfriend...always a kidder!!

I know I showed this photo yesterday...but I really love it!! LOL

Ah yeh, really interesting shops!

After China Town we headed to Fisherman's Wharf.

We've been there before and always enjoy it.

They were getting ready for the holidays,

With a Huge Christmas Tree!

My youngest son checking out the boats.

The was a young Seagull that was trying to get someone's attention by constantly peeping.

He got alot from passers by,

not sure that was who he wanted attention from tho ;~)

And a wonderful end to a tiring day!

Oldest and girlfriend.

Leaving on a Jet Plane.......

Wednesday we took middle son to the San Francisco Airport to catch a flight to Pennsylvania to see his girlfriend.

What an experience.

It's been 15 yrs since I have even been to an airport...my how thungs have changed. We can thank 911 for that.

TJ was 5 the last time he fly commercialy...he'll be 22 the end of December.

So basically this is was his first time, especialy alone.

But he made it there safely, which is all that matters.

Here's just a few pics of him trying to get thru security.

Ok Maybe I was more nervous than he....

look at those blurry pics!

ooohh, great shot of my daughter in the glass ;~)

da da da da boom shi

You bascialy have to strip!

Finally made it after setting the alarms off 3 times!! LOL

When they say everything out of your pockets they mean it!

After he was off we (my other 3 and oldest's girlfriend) decided to take advantage of being in "The City".

We headed to Chinatown, which will come next time.
In the meantime I want to leave you with this.

Aren't they just gorgeous!

I haven't had time to get out & check my garden for blooms, so I thought I'd share these from Chinatown.

They were outside a little shop and I couldn't resist.

I'm joining Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time

Be sure to check out everyone's blooms this week!

Happy Birthday Brandon!! Let Baking Season Begin!

Happy Birthday Brandon!!!

It's  my oldest son's birthday (Nov. 10).

Boy, am I getting old or what??

He is 33 today but will always be my first baby ;~)

Each year I make Russian Teacakes,

 his favorite cookie (my sister's and I's too), for him. 

This also kicks off our Holiday Baking Season.

These are truly yummy!!

Russian Tea Cake Cookie Recipe.

Mix:

1 cup butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts


Chill dough.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet (cookies do not spread). Bake at 400 degrees til set, but not brown,  about 10-12 minutes. Roll warm tea cakes in powdered sugar. Cool. Roll in powdered sugar again. Makes about 4 dozen tea cakes.

 

Enjoy!